【#Tech24H】The DF3000 Youlong, a 3tonne fullscale engineering prototype of the world’s first large hybriddrive tiltingrotor passenger electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, has successfully completed its first hybridmode flight. Developed by Institute for Aero Engine, Tsinghua University and Dreamfly Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd., the DF3000 Youlong has a takeoff weight of three tonnes and adopts a hybridpower architecture combining distributed electric propulsion with seriesrange extended power generation. It fully integrates core technologies from Tsinghua’s institute, including integrated flightpropulsion control and energy management algorithms, effectively overcoming the twin bottlenecks of traditional tiltingrotor aircraft, difficult development and complex controls, as well as the short endurance and low payload capacity of pureelectric eVTOLs. While preserving the flexibility of vertical takeoff and landing, it significantly improves range and loadcarrying capability, making it suitable for a variety of lowaltitude operational scenarios.  [ By Zhang Liyan | Tang Ruohan ]